Let’s be 100-percent honest. If I lived here in the town of Großaitingen I’d probably never get any work done. It would be impossible since there’s too much to experience and plenty of festivals and cultural events to enjoy — not just in the town itself, but also the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Großaitingen. That’s right, you guessed it, you got a town and a Collective Municipality of the same name, but all that does is just about double the goodness. ;-)
Now, because this is the Swabian region you’d think the first thing to tell you to do is rush right off into the idyllic countryside — and you’d be right. How else are you going to see things like the nearby Schloss Mickhausen?
However, I’m not going to fling you from one of Großaitingen’s villages to another and back again today. Nope, I’m going to keep it all together — starting with the village of Oberottmarshausen. The 18th century was good to this village, since that’s when its lovely Parsonage was built, and the Church of St. Vitus underwent its renovation from its medieval beginnings to something more “modern.”
Oberottmarshausen is also the place to be for a good party — especially the Starkbierfest in March (Lent, actually); an Oktoberfest every September; the Pfarrfest in October; followed by the Christkindlsmarkt at the end of November.
Kleinaitingen also has a whole bunch of fun festivals, as it too, has a Starkbierfest and a Pfarrfest, but also a Summer Festival in July and a Wine Festival in September. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
And if you’re not partying your little heart out, c’mon over to see the village’s Church of St. Martin which has seen many an event over the last 700-plus years.
Now it’s on to Großaitingen itself — a treasure trove of historical old buildings. It’s totally your choice if you want to start your journey at the Chapel of St. Ottilia (built 1710), or the St. Sebastian Chapel (1628). Or, if you prefer, you’ll find the Church of St. Nicholas at Am Alten Markt 1 — where it’s been since its construction in the year 1200. At Am Alten Markt 2 is Großaitingen’s 18th century schoolhouse, and on Augsburger Straße 2 is an old tithe barn.
Just a couple more things before you run off, OK? I just want to tell you about the St. Justina Chapel in Reinhartshofen, the late-Gothic Church of St. James (1669), and the Waldkapelle Vierzehn (1764).
Why make such a big deal about old churches? What’s the attraction?
The art and architecture of these grand dames are like a snapshot of long-gone era, they’re what still gives Germany it’s Old World charm and flavor.
Wait… maybe it’s the Starkbier (Strong Beer) that does it! ;-)
